First, please observe that both of these concepts are Bible
teachings, so we should not neglect the one to obey the other. We
must not deny the fact that we should seek to avoid evil
associations, but neither must we deny the fact that we should
seek to save sinners and this requires being with them. Consider
these observations:

1) Being a friend to sinners does not in any way mean we
should justify, condone, or participate in their evil practices.

Jesus compared this to a physician who tries to cure people of
disease (Luke 5:32). The physician does not like the disease and does not
condone the fact it exists in the patient's life, let alone does
he want to catch the disease. His association with the sick
person is for the express purpose of trying to help them
eliminate the disease. This expresses the attitude we should have
toward sin in a sinner's life. Note passages about rebuking sin
and refusing to fellowship it: Revelation 3:19; Galatians 6:1,2;
James 5:19,20; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Ephesians 5:11; 2 Timothy 4:2-4;
2 John 9-11; Ephesians 5:11; Proverbs 17:15; 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1;
1 Timothy 5:22; Psalms 1:1,2; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Romans 1:32;
Acts 7:58; 8:1; 22:20.

2) It follows that our association with sinners should be with
those who are willing to consider the gospel, listen to the
teaching of truth, and honestly consider their need to reform.

When people have been shown the truth but reject it, and even
worse when they try to influence us to accept and practice error,
then we must back off from our relationship from them, as
described in the verses about evil influences (note Matt. 15:14).
This requires, among other things, that we must always constantly
consider who is influencing whom. If it becomes clear that people
are not listening to our efforts to lead them to truth, and
especially if it becomes clear they are leading us to compromise
with sin, then we need to back off the relationship.

3) Furthermore, it follows that we should limit our association with sinners
to places and circumstances that do not promote and encourage their sin,
avoiding places and circumstances of moral disrepute where people gather to commit
immorality.

That
is, Jesus associated with sinners at morally upright or at least
morally neutral places, such as meals in people's homes (see the
examples above). Although He did try to teach prostitutes, there are no examples in which He
frequented
brothels to try to do so. Likewise, we should not
conclude that befriending sinners means we should go into the
taverns and casinos or attend wild parties to try to find people
to teach. We may teach those kinds of people, but we do it at
other times and other places, where they are more likely to be
receptive and where we are not so likely to be tempted to
participate in or appear to justify sin. (Note Psalm 26:5; 1 Cor.
8:10-12).

4) Furthermore, consider the principle of Heb.
5:12-14. The time comes
when people ought to be teachers; but those who are babes in
Christ are not necessarily ready to teach others, especially not
in difficult circumstances.

All of us need to learn to teach, but some
Christians are not yet ready to teach. We may need time to be
grounded in truth before we face people who are hardened in sin
and may shake our faith, instead of us moving them.

This is especially true with regard to sinful habits that a
new convert is struggling to overcome in his own life. The
principle of "evil companions" would especially teach
us that we need to avoid those people and places that have
entrapped us in the sins that we are trying to overcome. We must
avoid those people and those circumstances to whatever extent we
need to do so in order to overcome our evil habits. Perhaps later,
after we have overcome the habit and grown up in Christ, we can
go back to those people to try to teach them the truth. But even
then we must not do so in times and places where they are
actively participating in their immorality, such that they may be a
temptation to us to return to evil.

For more information about hating sin while loving the
sinner, please visit our Bible Instruction web
site at https://www.gospelway.com/instruct/
and study our free article about opposing the sins of others.

(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2006

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